The delay to the deployment of the MV Loch Seaforth has prompted a good deal of rumour and speculation which has highlighted some fundamental misunderstandings about the procurement of the ship and the responsibilities of the organisations involved.
This is possibly because several years has passed since CMAL’s original consultation on the new ship and this list of Frequently Asked Questions seeks to clarify the background to her purchase:
THE MAIN ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED
Transport Scotland (TS) – Part of Scottish Government and the principal funder of ferry services in Scotland. Transport Scotland is also responsible for setting and implementing Government policy on ferries.
MV Loch Seaforth Frequently Asked Questions
27 January 2015
The detail of day to day ferry services on the west coast of Scotland is set out
by TS in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract. This dictates virtually
every aspect of ferry services, most notably fares, timetables, routes and the ships
to be used (but not their deployment.)The original contract ran from 2007 to 2013
but was subsequently extended for 3 years by Transport Scotland. The tender process
for the next contract, which will come into effect in October 2016, is currently
underway. Looking to the future, the Government’s aspirations for ferry services
, including service levels, is set out in the Ferries Plan 2013-
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) – Created in 2006 to retain ships and ports in public ownership when the CHFS contract was put in place, CMAL owns all of the ships in the CHFS fleet and many of the ports to and from which ferry services operate. It is also responsible for the design and procurement of new ships and for any investment in its ports. CMAL also owns the Caledonian MacBrayne name and brand. CMAL is owned by Scottish Ministers and has its own Board of Directors, which is appointed by Scottish Government. See: www.cmassets.co.uk
CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) – Created in 2006 to bid for, and operate, the CHFS contract. It leases the vessels it deploys from CMAL and pays berthing dues to CMAL to use their ports. It is consulted as operator on some aspects of new ship build and port improvements, but the final decisions and responsibility for securing funding lies with CMAL and TS. CalMac is owned by Scottish Ministers and has its own Board of Directors, which is appointed by Scottish Government. See www.calmac.co.uk.
Stornoway Port Authority (SPA) – Operates Stornoway Harbour and charges CFL to use its berths. It is responsible for ensuring the port infrastructure is available to CFL and, with funding from TS, is carrying out the works necessary to accommodate the MV Loch Seaforth. See: www.stornowayportauthority.com
Ullapool Harbour Trust (UHT) – Operates Ullapool Harbour and charges CFL to use its berth. It is responsible for ensuring the port infrastructure is available to CFL and, with funding from TS, has now completed the works necessary to accommodate the MV Loch Seaforth. These works have been project managed by CMAL.
FAQ's
What is the background to the purchase of the MV Loch Seaforth and what was the thinking behind replacing two ships with one?
The ship which provided the overnight freight service between Stornoway and Ullapool, MV Muirneag, was due to come out of service in October 2013, so TS and CMAL commissioned a STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) study to see how best she might be replaced and, following detailed technical and financial analysis and extensive community consultation, Ministers took the decision to build a new ship, which would work round the clock, and replace both MV Muirneag and MV Isle of Lewis.
What are the advantages of a single, larger ship as proposed by CMAL?
One larger ship is able to combine the roles of the vehicle/passenger ferry with that of the freight service
She should also be more reliable in bad weather and have better technical reliability as the configuration of the propulsion systems means maintenance work can be carried out without affecting the operation of the ship.
How does the MV Loch Seaforth compare with MV Isle of Lewis?
She has a much greater capacity (40% more cars) and can go slightly faster with a service speed of 19.2 knots.
When did it become clear that the port infrastructure at Stornoway and Ullapool would require to be upgraded to accommodate the MV Loch Seaforth?
The decision to increase the size of the ship reflected, in part, a demand from the local community to improve reliability and increase the capacity on the route, so it was recognised at the outset by CMAL and TS that works would be required at both ports to accommodate the larger vessel.
Who was responsible for the works?
Funding was provided by Transport Scotland but the management of the tender and the placing of the contracts with external, private contractors was handled by the two harbour authorities.
As operator, is CalMac confident she can meet the needs of the local community?
We have always said that getting the ship into service has to be our priority and once that has happened and we have a better understanding of her capabilities and how these match demand etc, we can see what, if any, changes may be required. Had the ship been delivered in June 2014 as originally planned by CMAL she would have had a whole summer on which to assess this but the delays to her completion in Germany and the subsequent delays to the works at Stornoway Harbour has meant that she has not yet been tested on the route.
Who owns the MV Loch Seaforth?
She is owned by Lloyds Bank’s Corporate Asset Finance but leased to CMAL, which, in turn, leases her to CalMac Ferries Ltd.
What role did CalMac Ferries Ltd play in her procurement?
As operator, CFL provided CMAL with a schedule of its outline requirements, but played no part in the formal procurement process.
What involvement did CFL have in the build in Germany?
The build was project managed by CMAL, but as part of process, as the end users of the vessel, a small number of senior managers and senior crew from CalMac were required to attend in Germany to provide technical input as necessary and to familiarise themselves with all aspects of the ship, including engines, controls and safety systems, as the build progressed. As the ship neared completion, the full crew were required to spend time on the ship to be trained and become fully competent in all aspects of the onboard safety systems, in order that the ship could be fully certificated and ready to sail back to Scotland and subsequently enter service.
When can bookings be taken for the route?
The uncertainty surrounding completion of Stornoway Harbour and the introduction
of the MV Loch Seaforth, plus the proposed works at Ullapool linkspan, has unfortunately
impacted on the publication of the summer timetable on the Stornoway-
However, some key dates were agreed at the Taskforce meeting on January 15, which allows us to now put some arrangements in place that will allow bookings to be made for the period up to the start of the Ullapool Linkspan works and for the period from the end of the works to the end of the Summer timetable in October 2015.
What are these arrangements?
Bookings for the period from the start of the summer timetable on April 3 to April 20 when the Ullapool work start, and from May 25 for the rest of the Summer once works are completed, will be available to book online from Wednesday, January 21. For the period from the start of the Ullapool works on April 20, 2015, ferry travellers can provisionally book a morning or afternoon sailing through a web form and once the timetable has been agreed they will be contacted and the booking confirmed.
Bookings will not be opened to the wider public until everyone who has made a provisional booking has it confirmed.
When will the timetable for the duration of the Ullapool linkspan works be published?
Senior CalMac managers are meeting community representatives this week to set out the timetable options and a finalised timetable will be published as soon as possible after that.